Paper dispenser

ABSTRACT

A paper dispenser having end plates connected together by rails. Each rail is associated with a roll guide which is movable about an axis of the rail. The roll guide has a plurality of rotatable elements and may additionally be movable along the length of the rail such that a distance between two or more roll guides may be varied along the length of the rail. The roll guide is configured such that the rotatable elements of multiple roll guides will self adjust their orientation relative to a paper roll surface of a paper roll as it is dispensed from the paper dispenser. The paper dispenser also includes a paper cutting element that spans a portion of the distance between the end plates. A tape/ribbon dispenser, leg elements and/or standoff elements may also be associated with the paper dispenser. The leg elements and or standoff elements may be configured such that a paper dispenser can be secured to a surface and/or be such that multiple paper dispenser elements can be attached together.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to devices used for handing,dispensing and storing rolled paper and paper accessories. Inparticular, the present invention relates to a rolled paper storage anddispenser device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Rolled paper is a staple commodity that is used throughout modernsociety. For example, among the numerous other things, rolled papertakes the form of gift wrapping paper, butcher paper, arts and craftspaper, and wall covering paper. Typically, the handling and storing ofrolled paper is problematic since rolled paper tends to be unwieldy dueto its dimensions and weight. In addition, a user often finds itextremely difficult to precisely and accurately cut portions of thepaper from the roll due to such things as the width of the paper, thediameter of the roll, and the inherent positional instability of theroll on most surfaces. These problems often lead to a significant wasteof paper due to, for example, unsatisfactory cut portions, and/or damageto the paper roll due to improper storage such as when a roll is storedon its end.

Furthermore, rolled paper is often wrapped tightly about a center axis.This tight wrapping leads to the paper having a propensity to retain acurvature when it is unrolled. At times this curvature creates asituation in which the paper will spontaneously re-roll such that therecently unrolled portion of the paper forms into a second roll. Thistypically will exacerbate the problems associated with storing andhandling the rolled paper.

Conventionally, the problems associated with the rolled paper have beenaddressed by attempts to partially restrain portions of the roll. Forexample, a rod is often inserted through the axial center of the rollsuch that the rod serves as a support about which the roll can rotate.However, since the rod typically is not sized such that it closelymatches the center opening of the roll, dispensing paper from the rollis often erratic and uneven.

Other attempts to address the problems associated with rolled paper haveincluded providing support for the outside surface of the roll such thatthe paper can be dispensed as the roll is rotated. Typically, theseattempts utilize rollers in contact with the outer surface of the roll.However, since the diameter of the roll decreases as paper is dispensed,and since these dispensers typically utilize rollers which cannotdynamically adjust to this decreased diameter, dispensing resistance andconsistency is often unacceptable. In many cases the rolling of the rollmust either be assisted or suppressed in an attempt to alleviate thisunacceptable rolling resistance and consistency problem.

In addition, the conventional devices require complex and often timessubstantial elements which preclude the positioning and use of thedevices in desired locations, for example, under a table top, or wheremultiple rolls are required to be dispensed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, in a preferred form, the present invention is a paperdispenser which comprises a pair of spaced endplates connected togetherby one or more rails. Each rail is associated with a roll guide which ismovable about an axis of the rail. The roll guide has a plurality ofrotatable elements and may additionally be movable along the length ofthe rail such that a distance between two or more roll guides may bevaried along the length of the rail. The roll guide is configured suchthat the rotatable elements of a single or of multiple roll guides willself adjust their orientation relative to a paper roll surface of apaper roll being dispensed from the paper dispenser.

The paper dispenser may also have a paper cutting element which spans aportion of the distance between the pair of spaced endplates. Theendplates may also be associated with leg elements and/or standoffelements. The leg elements and or standoff elements may be configuredsuch that a paper dispenser can be secured to a surface and/or be suchthat multiple paper dispenser elements can be attached together.

An object of the present invention is to provide a paper dispenser forrolled paper which allows for convenient and reliable dispensing ofpaper.

An object of the present invention is to provide a paper dispenser whichhas a roll handling and dispensing configuration such that a paper rollis conveniently and reliably dispensed throughout the life cycle of theroll.

Another object of the invention is to provide a paper dispenser that canbe conveniently associated with a surface and/or which can be associatedwith a plurality of paper dispensers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a paper dispenser thatallows paper to be accurately and precisely cut paper from a roll.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident to one ofordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description madewith reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a paper dispenser and associated paper rollconsistent with the present invention.

FIG. 1A is a sectioned side view, along section line B-B of the paperdispenser with associated paper roll of FIG. 1 consistent with thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectioned side view, along section line C-C, of the paperdispenser of FIG. 1 consistent with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a paper dispenser having an associated standand support member consistent with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a set of roll guides and associated railsconsistent with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a paper dispenser consistent with thepresent invention.

FIG. 5A is a sectional view from the front along section A-A of thepaper dispenser of FIG. 5 consistent with the present invention.

FIGS. 6A-6D are perspective views of paper dispensers and associatedpaper rolls in various mounted positions consistent with the presentinvention.

FIGS. 7A-7C are side cut away views, partly in schematic, of a paperdispenser consistent with the present invention being respectivelyassociated with a full paper roll, a partially depleted paper roll, anda nearly empty paper roll.

FIGS. 8A and 8B respectively show, partly in schematic, a pair rollguides being displaced along a set of rails and about a set of railsconsistent with the present invention.

FIGS. 9A and 9B respectively show a paper dispenser and associatedribbon/tape holder consistent with the present invention in an assembledand an exploded view, partly in schematic.

FIG. 10 shows, partly in schematic, a paper dispenser with rotatablecutter bar arms which are associated with a cutter bar consistent withthe present invention.

FIG. 11 shows, partly in schematic, an end portion of a paper dispenserwherein a leg element is being inserted into a recess of the end plateconsistent with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the drawings wherein like numerals represent likeparts throughout the several figures, a paper dispenser in accordancewith the present invention is generally designated by the numeral 10.

In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, thepaper dispenser 10 comprises a first end plate 12 and a second end plate14. The end plates 12, 14, are laterally spaced apart by a first rail 16and a second rail 18, shown in FIG. 1A. Each rail 16, 18 may besubstantially cylindrical and is associated with a roll guide 20,portions of which are movable about an axis 22 of the rail 16, 18 (asshown in FIG. 8B). The roll guide 20 has a plurality of rotatableelements 24 which may be configured, for example, as a spherical,cylindrical (as shown in FIG. 8B) and/or similarly rotatable structures.

In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 8B, theroll guide 20 has a body 26 which is configured to receive a rail 16, 18such that the body 26 may rotate about the axial center 22 of the rail16, 18. The body 26 may be substantially cylindrical. Extendingoutwardly from the body 26 is a pair of roller support arms 28. Each ofthe roller support arms 28 are connected to a rotatable element 24. Apaper roll surface 30, as shown in FIGS. 7A-7C, may be associated witheach rotatable element 24 of the roll guide 20. The paper roll surface30 is formed by, for example, an elongated paper sheet which is wrappedabout a paper roll axial center 32. In operation, as the paper rollsurface 30 is rotated about the paper roll axial center 32, therotatable element 24 is cause to rotate due to its contact with thepaper roll surface.

In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 10, thereare two roll guides 20 on each rail 16, 18. Each of the two roll guides,as shown in FIG. 8A, may be movable along the length of the rail 16, 18such that a distance between the two roll guides 20 may be varied alongthe length of each rail 16, 18. It should be understood that multipleroll guides 20 may be present on each rail 16, 18, and that each of themultiple roll guides 20 may be movable relative to each other and eachend plate 12, 14.

The roll guide 20, in one embodiment of the present invention, isconfigured such that the rotatatable elements 24 of single and/ormultiple roll guides 20 will self adjust their orientation relative tothe paper roll surface 30 as the paper roll is reduced in diameter dueto paper being dispensed from the paper roll. For example, as shown inFIGS. 7A-7B, as the diameter of the paper roll decreases, the centeraxis 32 of the paper roll moves closer to the rails 16, 18. As thecenter axis 32 of the paper roll moves closer to the rails 16, 18, thebody 26 of each roll guide rotates about the rail 16, 18 such that therotatable elements 24 maintain an advantageous relationship with thepaper roll surface 30. It should be noted that the rotatable elements 24of a single roll guide may, for example, self adjust their orientationrelative to the paper roll surface 30 through flexure of the supportarms 28.

The paper dispenser 10, in one embodiment of the present invention, asshown in FIGS. 1, 1A, and 2 may include a paper cutting assembly 40. Thepaper cutting assembly 40 includes a cutter bar arm 42 having a plateconnecting end 44 and a cutter bar end 46. The plate connecting end 44may be rotatably connected to the plate 12, 14, such the cutter bar arm42 may rotatably move relative to the plate 12, 14 (as shown in FIG.10). The cutter bar end 46 of the arm 42 is configured to retain acutter bar 48. The cutter bar 48, as shown in FIG. 1, may spansubstantially the entire distance between the plates 12, 14.

In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, thecutter bar 48 includes an opening 49 which is partially defined by ablade back plate 50, a first paper support 52, a blade 54, and a bladefront plate 56. In operation, as shown in FIG. 9A, paper 58, beingdispensed from the roll extends through the opening 49. Inside theopening 49, as shown in FIG. 2, the paper 58 may be partially supportedand guided by the first paper support 52 such that a portion of thepaper 52 can be brought into contact with the blade 54 wherein the paper58 can be cut. For example, a user of the paper dispenser may pull on aportion of the paper 58 extending out of the opening 49 such that thepaper 58 is forced against the blade 58. In addition, the cutter bar arm42 with attached cutter bar 48 may be moved in toward the paper roll byrotating the cutter bar arm 40 as shown in FIG. 10. This would, forexample, allow paper 58 to be fed through the opening 49. Furthermore,portions of the blade back plate 50, the first paper support 52, and theblade front plate 56 may retain the paper 58 in the opening such that itcannot easily be pulled out from the roll side of the opening 49 towardthe roll. For example, portions of the blade back plate 50, the firstpaper support 52, and the blade front plate 56 may act to allow thepaper 58 to be extended through the paper in a substantially one-waymanner.

The paper dispenser 10, in one embodiment of the present invention, asshown in FIGS. 1A, 2, 3, and 5, may include paper cutting assembly 60.The paper cutting assembly 60, in a preferred configuration, is attachedto a back side of the plate 12, 14 by a support arm 62. The papercutting assembly 60 includes an opening 64 which is configured toreceive the paper 58. The opening 64 is at least partially defined by ablade holder 66, a blade 68, and a cutter paper support 72. The papercutting assembly 60 also includes a cutter handle 70. The paper cuttingassembly 60 is displaceably associated a cutter guide rail 74 whichextends between the distance defined by the plates 12, 14. In operation,paper 58 is extended through the opening 64. The blade 68 is broughtinto contact with the paper 58 with the cutter handle 70. The papercutting assembly 60 is then displaced along the cutter guide rail 74such that the paper 58 is cut.

In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 6A-6D, theend plates 12, 14 may also be associated with leg elements 76 and/orstandoff elements 78. The leg elements 76 may be configured such that itcan be secured to an endplate 12, 14, of the paper dispenser 10 mayinclude a surface stability portion. For example, as shown in FIG. 6Bthe leg element 76 includes a flat surface 79 for resting on a table 80.The leg element 76A (as shown in FIG. 3) preferably includes a flattenedportion 77 which is configured to engage with a leg recess 84 present inthe end plate 12, 14. The leg recess 84 is preferably configured as achannel extending from the front to the back of the end plate 12, 14.The leg element 76 may have openings 88, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 9A-9B,through which a fastener (not shown) can be inserted to secure the legelement 76 to, for example, a table 80.

The standoff element 78, in one embodiment of the present invention, asshown in FIG. 6C is configured to allow multiple paper dispenserelements 10 to be advantageously connected together. For example, astand off element 78 may be associated with a standoff recess 86 in theend plate 12, 14 of a first paper dispenser and with the leg recess 84in the end plate 12, 14, of a second paper dispenser. The standoffelement 78 may include an opening 90 through which the paper dispenser10 can be secured to a wall 82 (as shown in FIG. 6A), and/or anunderside of a table 80 (as shown in FIG. 6D). The standoff recess 86 ispreferably configured as a channel extending from the front to the backof the end plate 12, 14.

In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B,the paper dispenser 10 may be associated with a ribbon/tape holder 92.The ribbon/tape holder 92 preferably includes a channeled body 100having a plurality of slots 104 into which dividers 102 may be inserted.A tape/ribbon roll 16, as shown in FIG. 9A may be inserted betweenadjacent dividers 102.

The channeled body 100, in one embodiment of the present invention, asshown in FIG. 9B may a radiused portion 108 configured to engage and besupported by roll guides 20 of a paper dispenser 10. As such, a paperdispenser 10 may also be utilized as a dispenser for tape/ribbon. Forexample, tape/ribbon can be dispensed from a tape/ribbon roll 106 byextending tape/ribbon through the cutting bar opening 49 as shown inFIG. 9A.

While preferred embodiments of the foregoing invention have been setforth for purposes of illustration, the foregoing description should notbe deemed a limitation of the invention herein. Accordingly, variousmodifications, adaptations and alternatives may occur to one skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention.

1. A paper dispenser comprising: a first endplate and a second endplatespaced from the first end plate by a first distance; a pair of railshaving a center axis, each rail having a first end mounted attached tothe first endplate and a second end mounted to the second end plate; anda pair of roll guides each having a body, a roller support projectionattached to the body, and a rotatable element rotatively fixed to thesupport projection, each said body being movably attached to a rail. 2.The paper dispenser of claim 1, wherein the body is substantiallycylindrical, and the support projection includes a pair of extendingarms, said extending arms each have a rotatable element which includes asubstantially cylindrical roller.
 3. The paper dispenser of claim 1,further including a paper cutting assembly comprising a cutter bar armhaving an endplate connecting end rotatably fixed to the first endplate, said cutter bar arm having a cutter bar end attached to a cuttingbar, said cutting bar extending the substantially the first distancebetween the first endplate and the second endplate.
 4. The paperdispenser of claim 3, wherein the cutting bar includes an opening whichis partially defined by a blade back plate, a paper support, a blade anda blade front plate.
 5. The paper dispenser of claim 4, furtherincluding a displaceable cutting assembly mounted to a rear of the firstendplate and the second endplate, said cutting assembly including asecond opening which is at least partially defined by a blade holderattached to a cutter handle, a blade attached to the blade holder, and apaper support, said cutting assembly being displaceably mounted to acutter assembly rail such that the cutting assembly can be displacedalong a portion of the cutter assembly rail intermediate the first andsecond endplates.
 6. The paper dispenser of claim 1, wherein a rollguide is attached to each of said rails such that the roll guide canmove about each rail center axis and can move along each rail betweenthe first and second endplates.
 7. The paper dispenser of claim 1,wherein the first and second endplates include recesses, said recessesare configured to receive at least one of a leg element or a standoffelement.
 8. The paper dispenser of claim 7, wherein the standoff elementis received by the first or the second endplate of a second paperdispenser.
 9. The paper dispenser of claim 7, wherein at least one ofthe leg element or the standoff element is further fixed to a mountingsurface.
 10. The paper dispenser of claim 1, further including atape/ribbon holder, said tape/ribbon holder comprising a channeled bodyconfigured to be supported by the roll guide, said channeled body havinga plurality of slots and a plurality of dividers associated with saidslots.
 11. A paper dispenser and paper roll assembly comprising: a firstendplate and a second endplate; a pair of rails having a center axis,each rail having a first end mounted to the first endplate and a secondend mounted to the second end plate; a portion of roll guided eachhaving a body, a roller support projection attached to the body, and arotatable element rotatably mounted to the support projection, each bodybeing movably attached to a rail; and a paper roll, having an axialcenter about which is disposed a substantially continuous paper sheet,said paper roll having an outer surface in contact with the rotatableelement.
 12. The paper dispenser and paper roll assembly of claim 11,further including a paper cutting assembly comprising a cutter bar armhaving an endplate connecting end rotatably mounted to the first endplate, said cutter bar arm having a cutter bar end attached to a cuttingbar, said cutting bar extending between the first endplate and thesecond endplate; and wherein said cutting bar is selectively engageablewith the substantially continuous paper sheet.
 13. The paper dispenserand paper roll assembly of claim 12 wherein the cutting bar includes anopening through which extends a portion of the substantially continuouspaper sheet, said opening being partially defined by a blade back plate,a paper support, a blade, and a blade front plate, said blade beingselectively in contact with the substantially continuous paper sheet.14. The paper dispenser and paper roll assembly of claim 11, furtherincluding a displaceable cutting assembly mounted to a rear of the firstendplate, said cutting assembly including a paper opening through whichthe substantially continuous paper sheet extends, said paper opening atleast partially defined by a blade holder attached to a cutter handle, ablade attached to the blade holder, and a paper support upon which saidsubstantially continuous paper sheet is supported, said cutting assemblybeing displaceably mounted to a cutter assembly rail such that thecutting assembly can be displaced along a portion of the cutter assemblyrail intermediate the first and second endplates while the blade cutsthe substantially continuous paper sheet.
 15. The paper dispenser andpaper roll assembly of claim 11, wherein the paper roll has at least afull roll configuration, a partially depleted roll configuration, and anearly depleted roll configuration, and wherein the roll guide isattached to the rail such that the roll guide can move about the railcenter axis such that the rotatable element maintains contact with theouter surface of the paper roll in at least the full roll configuration,the partially depleted roll configuration, and the nearly depleted rollconfiguration.
 16. The paper dispenser and paper roll assembly of claim11, wherein the roll guides can move be along the rails between thefirst and second endplates.
 17. The paper dispenser and paper rollassembly of claim 11, further including a second paper dispenserconnected to the paper dispenser, said second paper dispenser having atape/ribbon holder, said tape/ribbon holder comprising a channeled bodyconfigured to be supported by the roll guide of the second paperdispenser, said channeled body having a plurality of slots and aplurality of dividers associated with said slots.
 18. The paperdispenser and paper roll assembly of claim 11, wherein the first andsecond endplates include recesses, said recesses are configured toreceive at least one of a leg element or a standoff element.